Philips Vari-Lite Expands European Technical Training

In an effort to increase support for its European distributors, Philips Vari-Lite has launched a new European technical training initiative. With the addition of Coral Cooper, the 2010 Knights of Illumination Lifetime Achievement Award-winner, Philips Vari-Lite recently held technical training seminars in the UK and Spain with more planned in Germany, Austria and throughout the continent.

“As we move forward with expanding our training programs for our European customers, it is crucial that we have the infrastructure in place to support our distributors and their technicians,” said Julie Smith, Philips Vari-Lite Support Services Director. “When we had the opportunity to ask Coral to join us for this initiative we were extremely excited. It is not often that a person of her expertise and industry reputation becomes available. All of our distributors throughout Europe will benefit greatly from her knowledge and experience.”

“Since the beginning of the automated lighting industry, Vari-Lite has been at the forefront of lighting technology,” stated Cooper. “I have always enjoyed working with VARI*LITE luminaires and I am looking forward to working with their already strong European distributors to ensure that they be able to offer the very best in technical support.”

Philips Vari-Lite hosted the first technical training seminar on July 19, 2010, in London, and then held a second event on September 27, 2010, in conjunction with local distributor EES.

“While the Vari-Lite technical training helped all our guests acquire a deeper knowledge of the luminaires they work with on a regular basis, it especially helped them learn more about the units that they may not have be familiar with giving them a greater confidence to utilize the complete product family,” said Nacho Acha-Orbea, President of EES. “Being able to open the different units of the range while receiving explanations from a very professional and experienced teacher in Coral, everyone was extremely happy with the training. It gave them information that you can't find in manuals.”

Additional technical training seminars are currently scheduled for Germany and Austria, with future dates and locations to be announced. For more information on future dates visit www.vari-lite.com.

European distributors interested in conducting a seminar, should contact Technical Training Manager Todd Kessler at todd.kessler@philips.com, or call 1-877-VARILITE.